5 Parenting Tips: For Boys 11-13

Looking for parenting tips on what’s happening with your 11-13 year old son? I’ve worked with over 2,000 boys for more than 20 years in The Quest Project® a 10-week Modern Day Rite of Passage® program.   We meet in age appropriate groups: 11 to 13, 14 to 16, and 17 to 19-year-olds. Here I focus…

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Parenting Tip: Peer Pressure and Your Son

It’s time for a new school year to begin.  As you monitor grades, homework and schedules, don’t forget to watch for social changes that may be related to peer pressure. Peer pressure is by definition: Social pressure by members of one’s peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in…

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Raising Sons? Teach Integrity

With integrity, you have nothing to fear, since you have nothing to hide. With integrity, you will do the right thing, so you will have no guilt.  -Zig Ziglar Truer words were never spoken! Core Values So what does this have to do with raising sons?  Integrity is a core value; it must be taught…

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Simply….. “If”

“If” you have been subscribed to my newsletter since 2015, you’ve read this before!  If not, you’re in for a treat.  It’s time for me to share again as it remains one of my favorite poems.  Originally published in 1910 by Rudyard Kipling, it’s still very relevant today.  Enjoy!

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Economically Undesirable Men?

An article published in the Journal of Family and Marriage titled “Mismatches in the Marriage Market” published last month has fired me up; and my hope is it fires you up too! The article addresses what it calls a shortage of “economically attractive” unmarried men….according to unmarried women!  Unmarried women find the available men undesirable…

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In Search of Fathers Wisdom

When an article on boys gets published and catches my eye, I like to share my thoughts with you!  This one was written by a mom raising a 12 year old boy; “Raising Better Boys” was in USA Today and here’s what caught my attention. In the midst of innumerable allegations bringing white-hot attention to…

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Father: Teacher, Mentor & Example

The New York Times ran an op-ed piece by a psychologist/father titled “It’s Dangerous to Be a Boy.”  He tells a story about dealing with a situation his son was having as a young man.  In part it went like this… After years together laughing and riding their tricycles and then bikes up and down…

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Epidemic of Absent Fathers

We have an epidemic of absent fathers.  Sad but true.  Here I’ll outline the three most prevalent types. Emotionally Absent This dad may be present in the home physically, but emotionally he’s somewhere else.  Maybe he works long hours; he’s out early in the morning and home in time for dinner. He’s a hard worker…

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The Quest Project: A Parent’s Point of View

Typically, my posts are centered around processes and tips to help parents raising adolescent boys.  A very important component of The Quest Project are the five parent meetings that are scheduled throughout the 10-weeks their son is attending Quest. Parents Are Key to Success! I received this email from a Mom that likely echo’s what…

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Cheers To Mom!

  This is dedicated to all the Mom’s out there who are raising son(s)! Thank You Mom If you’re a single Mom, you don’t need me to tell you how hard it is raising kids alone.  Many mom’s today are filling the role of dad too.  They’re likely working a full-time job, taking care of…

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